Power operated portable tool



June 9,1936. B. H. WUEBBEN POWER OPERATED PORTABLE TOOL Filed July 24, 1954 his ATTORNEY Patented June '9, 1936 PATENT OFFICE POWER OPERATED PORTABLE TOOL Bernard H. Wuebben, Dayton, Ohio, assignor to The Buckeye Portable Tool Company, Dayton, Ohio, a corporation of Ohio Application July 24; 1934, Serial No. 736,711

12 Claims.

This invention relates to power operated portable tools and more particularly to such a. tool designed for running nuts onto and off of bolts and for like purposes.

Power operated portable tools have been designed heretofore for the purpose of setting nuts and like operations which comprised two alined driving members, one of which was continuously operated and the other of which. was connected with the wrench or tool to be actuated. The two members were connected by a slip connection which would cause the two driving members to rotate in unison during the initial operation but which would permit one driving member to rotate with relation to the other when excessiveresistance was offered to the rotation of the latter drivingmember, as by the tightening down of the nut. The provision of a satisfactory slip connection between the dn'ving members involved complications and the use of additional parts which increased the cost of production and maintenance, increased the likelihood of breakage in operation and increased the size of the tool and the weight thereof. Further, it was sometimes found desirable to connect the two driving memhers by a spring which would be' expanded under frictional contact with one of the members to lessen the shock imposed upon the operator when the nut reached its final position. Such a device could be operated in a, forward direction only unless special reversing mechanism was provided, which further complicated the construction but made the tool reversible, as shown in the application of Ripsch and Wuebben, filed January. 12, 193i, Serial No. 706,416.

One object of the invention is to provide a tool or mechanism of this character in which the slip connection will be simple in construction, will comprise comparatively few parts and will be of a strong durable character, and positive in operation.

a further object of the invention is to so construct such a mechanism that it may be made of a relatively small size without detracting from its strength and efficiency and can thereby be made of relatively light weight, which is an important factor in a portable tool.

Other objects of the invention will appear as the apparatus is described in detail/ I In the accompanying drawing Fig. 1 is a longitudinal sectional view taken centrally through the driving mechanism of a tool embodying my invention; Fig. 2 is a side elevation of a slip conncction between the driving members; and Fig. 3

only and that the invention may take various forms and may be applied to tools, or other devices, of various kinds. As here shown, the tool as a whole comprises a housing 5 which contains a suitable power unit, such as a motor and is provided with a handle by means of which the device may be manipulated. These features are of a well known construction and are not here illustrated as they are not necessary to an understanding of the invention. Mounted in the front wall of the housing is a shaft 6 connected by means including a gear I with the power unit, forming in effect a part of that unit. This shaft extends outwardly beyond the wall of the housing and has rigidly secured thereto one element 8 of a jaw clutch. Rigidly secured to and extending forwardly from the housing 5 is a tubular element or cylindrical guide 9 in which the driving mechanism forming the subject matter of this invention is mounted.

The tubular guide 9 is preferably provided with a bushing Ill forming a bearing in which is rtatably and slidably mounted a tubular front driving member which is provided at its forward end with means, such as a chuck i2a, for connecting a wrench or other tool therewith. Also slidably and rotatably mounted within the bushing ii] is a rear driving member 52, this rear driv ing member being mounted on the front driving member for rotation with relation thereto and having a tubular part or extension l3 projecting forwardly in the tubular front driving member for a substantial distance. The cylindricalouter surfaces of the two driving members are flush and they are adapted to rotate eitherin unison or with relation one to the other within the guide 9 and also to have longitudinal sliding movement in unison in that guide. The two driving members are held against relative axial movement and, in the present construction, a spindle it is rigidly mounted in the forward end of the front driving member, as shown at E5, extends rearwardly through the two driving members and is rotatably mounted in the rear driving member, as shown at is. The rear driving member is provided with clutch jaws ii to cooperate with the jaws of the clutch member 3. Yieldable means are provided for holding the driving members normally in their foremost positions and thus separating the two clutch members. This means is here shown as a spring pressed plunger !8 slidably mounted in a recess in the shaft 6 and engaging the rear end of the spindle M. When the wrench or other tool has been applied to the work and pressure is exerted on the housing 5 the latter will move forwardly with relation to the driving members, thus bringing the two clutch members into cooperative relation and establishing driving connection between the power unit and the rear driving member. 4

As has been stated, a slip connection has been provided between the rear driving member and the front driving member to cause the latter to normally rotate with the rear driving member but to permit the rear driving member to rotate with relation to the front driving member when excessive resistance is oflfered to the rotation of the latter. For this purpose there is mounted in the tubular front driving member a connecting member is which is capable of axial movement with relation to the front driving member but is held against rotation with relation thereto, so that the front driving member will at all=times rotate with the connecting member. As here shown, the connecting member is annular in form and is provided with laterally extending lugs or ribs 20 which are slidably mounted in longitudinal guideways in the front driving member, as shown at 2|. Preferably the guideways are formed between inwardly extending parts of the front driving member so that the overall diameter of the connecting member and its lugs or ribs may be slightly less than the inside diameter of the rear portion of the front driving member, thus permitting the connecting member to be inserted through the rear portion of the front driving member to engage its lugs with the guideways. The connecting member I9 and the tubular portion I3 of the rear driving member are provided with cooperating-cam surfaces of such a character that they will cooperate normally to cause the connecting member and therefore the front driving member to rotate with the rear driving member and preferably these cam suriaces are of such a character that they will so cooperate when the rear driving member is rotated in either direction, thereby enabling the wrench or other implement which is attached to the front driving member to be operated in either direction by merely reversing the direction of operation of the power unit. In the present construction the tubular part l3 or the rear driving member is provided with two cam lugs 22 arranged diametrical- -ly opposite one to the other and each having its contact edges beveled. The connecting member is provided with similar cam lugs 23 and, in the present construction, these lugs are formed on the upper ends of the ribs 20. The cams are of such size and are so arranged that the two cam surfaces on the rear driving member will simultaneously engage the corresponding cam surfaces on the connecting member.

The connecting member is yieldably supported in such a manner as to retain the cam lugs 23 normally in operative relation to the cam lugs 22 but to permit the connecting member to be moved axially by the action of the cam surfaces when excessive resistance is oflered to the rotation of the front driving member and the connecting member, thus enabling the lugs 22 on the rear driving member to ride over the lugs on the connecting member. As soonas the lugs 22 have passed over the lugs 28 of the connecting member the latter will be moved rearwardly to again position the lugs 23 on the path of the lugs 22 and the latter will engage the lugs 23 with a severe impact or blow and will again ride over the same. 5 Consequently the connecting member and the wrench, or other tool, willbe subjected to a se ries of impacts which will cause the nut to be driven tightly to its final position, much in the manner in which a nut is set by means of a cold 10 chisel and hammer.

The means for resiliently supporting the connecting member may take various forms and will, of course, vary as the form of the connecting member varies but, in the present construction, I 5 have-shown the connecting member as tubular in form and having a part 24 which extends beyond the cam lugs 23 and is slidably supported in the tubular portion of the rear driving member, which forms a guide therefor. Coiled about the 20 spindle I4 within this tubular connecting member is a spring 25, which is confined between the rear end of the connecting member and a nut 26 screw threaded onto the spindle l4, and thus acts constantly on the connecting member to move the 5 same rearwardly and to maintain the cam lugs in cooperative relation. Preferably a washer or wear plate 21 is interposed between the forward end of the spring and the nut. The nut may be retained in adjusted positions in any suitable 3 manner, as by means of a locking device comprising a band 28 extending about the front driving member and having a lip 29 extending through a slot 30 in the front driving member and engaging one of a series of recesses Si in the nut.

The rear end of the connecting member 0011- tacts with the rear driving member and this positively limits the rearward movement imparted to the connecting member by the spring and eliminates the axial pounding action of the 40 cam lugs 23 against the forward end of the tubular part of the rear driving member. Further, by varying the length of the connecting member the amount of overlap between the lugs.22 and 23 may be varied so that the action of the cam 45 will impart difierent amounts of axial movement to the connecting member and more or less force will be required to retract the connecting member and permit the cam lugs to pass one another. In this manner the hammer action of the tool on the nut may be controlled and, of course, it

i may also be controlled by regulating the tension of the spring 25 through the adjustment of the nut 26.

By so arranging the mechanism that the rear driving member acts directly upon the connecting member I have eliminated various intermediate parts and thereby not only reduced the cost of production and maintenance but have provided a device which is very strong and is positive in its action, Further, the construction is such that the overall dimensions 01' the device may be substantially reduced and its weight materially decreased, due to the elimination of parts and the arrangement of other parts. Further, the cooperating parts of the device are of such a character that they can be made very strong and durable and there is little likelihood of breakage in service.

While I have shown and described one embodiment of my invention I wish it to be understood that I do not desire to be limited to the details thereof as various modifications may occur to a person skilled in the art.

Having now fully described my invention, what 7:

I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent. is: g I

1. In a mechanism of the character described, a tubular front driving member having a part arranged within the same for rotation therewith, a rotatable rear driving member having a nonyieldable part rigidly connected therewith and extending into said tubular front driving member, said parts having opposed cam surfaces to establish a driving connection between said parts, and means for yieldably supporting said part of said front driving member to normally maintain a driving connection between said parts and to permit said part of said front driving member to yield axially and thus enable said part of said rear driving member to rotate with relation thereto when excessive resistance is offered to the rotation of said front driving member.

between said partswhen said rear driving member is rotated in either direction, and means for yieldably supporting said part of said front driving member to normally maintain a driving connection between said parts-and to permit said part of said front driving member to yield axially and thus enable said part of said rear driving member to rotate with relation thereto when excessivev resistance is offered to the rotation of said front driving member.

3. ,In a; mechanism of the character described,

, a tubular front driving member having a part arranged within the same for rotation therewith,

said part having a plurality of cam surfaces, a

parts, whereby excessive resistance to the rota tion of said front driving member will cause the rear cam surfaces to ride over the front cam surfaces and then engage the front cam surfaces with a sharp impact.

4. In a mechanism ofthe character described,

a tubular front driving member having a part arranged within the same for rotation therewith,

a rear driving member rotatably mounted on said front driving member and having an integral tubular part extending into and rotatable in said tubular front driving member and arranged in axial alinement with said part of said front driving member, the adjacent portions of said parts of said driving members each having a plurality of cam surfaces, the cam surfaces of the two' parts being arranged in opposed relation to cause said driving members to normally rotate in unison, means for yieldably holding the cam surfaces of one of said parts against axial movement with relation to the cam surfaces of the other part, thereby permitting said rear driving member to rotate with relation to said front driving member when excessive resistance is offered to the rotation of the latter, and means for rotating said rear driving member.

5. In a mechanism of the character described, a tubular front driving member, a rotatable rear driving member having a part rigidly connected therewith and extending into said tubular front driving member, said part having a plurality of cam surfaces, means for rotating said rear driving member, a connecting member mounted in said tubular front driving member for axial movement with relation thereto and held against rotation with, relation thereto, said connecting member having a plurality of camsurfaces in opposed relation to the cam surfaces of said part of said rear driving member, means to yieldably press said connecting member toward said part of'said rear driving member and retain said cam surfaces normally in cooperative relation, whereby said front driving member will normally be rotated in unison with said rear driving member and said rear driving member will be permitted to rotate with relation to said front driving member when excessive resistance is ofiered to the rotation of the latter. i

6. In a mechanism of the character described,

a tubular front driving member having a part arranged within the same for rotation therewith. a rotatable rear driving member having a part rigidly connected therewith and extending into said tubular front driving member, said parts of said driving members having opposed cam surfaces, means for yieldably holding the cam surfaces of one of said parts against axial movement with relation to the cam surfaces of the other of said parts, whereby a slip connection isestablished between said driving members, said cam surfaces being so arranged that said slip connection between said driving members will be establishedwhen said rear driving member is rotated in either a forward direction or a reverse direction.

7. In a mechanism of the character described,

a tubular front driving member having means for connecting a tool therewith, a rear driving member rotatably mounted on said front driving member and having a tubular part rigidly connected therewith, extending into said tubular front driving member and provided at its forward edge with a plurality of cam surfaces spaced'circumferentially about the same, a connecting member mounted in said tubular front driving member for rotation therewith and for axial movement with relation thereto, said connecting member having a plurality of circumferentially spaced cam surfaces to cooperate with the first mentioned cam surfaces to cause said front driving member to normally rotate with said rear driving member,

a yieldable support for said connecting member to permit the cam surfaces of said rear driving member to ride 0ver the cam surfaces of said connecting member when excessive resistance is offered to the rotation of said front driving member, and means for rotating said rear driving member.

8. In a mechanism of the character described, a tubular front driving member having means for connecting a tool therewith, a rear driving member rotatably mounted on said front driving member and having a tubular part rigidly connected therewith, extending into said tubular front driving member and provided atits forward edge with a plurality of cam surfaces spaced circumferentially about the same, a connecting member mounted in said tubular front driving member for rotation therewith and for axial movement with relation thereto, said connecting member having a plurality of circumferentially spacedcam surfaces to cooperate with the first mentioned cam surfaces to cause said front driv ing member to normally rotate with said rear driving member, a yieldable support for said connecting member to permit the cam surfaces of said rear driving member to ride over the cam surfaces of said connecting member when excessive resistance is offered to the rotation of said front driving member, said cam surfaces being shaped to cause them to cooperate when said rear driving member is rotated in either direction.

9. In a mechanism of the character described, a tubular front driving member, a rotatable rear driving member having a part rigidly connected therewith, and extending into said tubular front driving member, means for rotating said rear driving member, a connecting member mounted in said tubular front driving member for axial movement with relation thereto and held against rotation with relation thereto, said connecting member and said part of said rear driving memher having opposed cam surfaces, means to yieldably press said connecting member toward said part of said rear driving member and retain said cam surfaces normally in cooperative relation, whereby said front driving member will normally be rotated in unison with said rear driving member and said rear driving member will be permitted to rotate with relation to said front driving member when excessive resistance is offered to the rotation of the latter, and means supported by said front driving member independently of said connecting member to adjust the tension of said spring, said connecting member having a part spaced to the rear of the cam surfaces thereof to engage said rear driving member and limit the movement of said connecting member by said spring.

10. In a mechanism of the character described,

, a tubular front driving member having means for connecting a tool therewith, a rear driving member rotatably mounted on said front driving member and having a tubular part rigidly connected therewith, extending into said tubular front driving member and provided at its forward edge with a plurality of cam surfaces spaced circumferentially about the same, atubular connecting member mounted in said tubular front driving member for rotation therewith and for axial movement with relation thereto and having a plurality of circumferentially spaced cam surfaces to cooperate with the first mentioned cam surfaces to cause said front driving member to normally rotate with said driving member, said connecting member having a part slidably mounted in the tubular part of said rear driving member, a spring arranged in said tubular connecting member and acting thereon to support the cam surfaces of said connecting member normally in operative relation to the camsurfaces of said rear driving member and means for rotating said rear driving member.

11. In a mechanism of the character described, a tubular front driving member having means for connecting a tool therewith, a rear driving member rotatably mounted in said front driving member and having a tubular part rigidly connected therewith, extending into said tubular front driving member and provided at its forward edge with a plurality of cam surfaces spaced circumferentially about the same, a tubular connecting member mounted in said tubular front driving member for rotation therewith and for axial movement with relation thereto and having a plurality of circumferentially spaced cam surfaces to cooperate with the first mentioned cam surfaces to cause said front driving member to normally rotate with said driving member, said connecting member having a part slidably mounted in the tubular part of said rear driving member and adapted to engage said rear driving member to limit the rearward movement of said connecting member, a spring arranged in said tubular connecting member and acting thereon to support the cam surfaces of said connecting member normally in operative relation to the cam of said rear driving member, and means for rotating said rear driving member.

12. In a mechanism of the character described, a tubular front driving member having means for connecting a tool therewith, a rear driving member rotatably mounted on said front driving member and having a tubular part rigidly connected therewith, extending into said tubular front driving member and provided at its forward edge with a plurality of cam surfaces spaced circumferentially about the same, a spindle rigidly mounted in said front driving member and rotatably mounted insaid rear driving member, a tubular connecting member mounted in said front driving member about said spindle for axial movement with relation thereto and having lateral parts to engage said front driving member and cause the latter to rotate therewith, said lateral parts having at their rear ends cam surfaces to cooperate with the cam surfaces of said rear driving member, a nut adjustabiy mounted on said spindle, a spring coiled about said spindle within said connecting member and confined between the rear portion of said connecting member and said nut, and means for rotating said rear driving member.

BERNARD H. WUEBBEN. 

